Thousands likely at Horomia's tangi

Mourners flock to pay respects but locals say they can handle the crowds however big.

Wayne Ngata says the exact scale of the event was hard to gauge but the hosts are unfazed. Photo / Alan Gibson

Thousands are likely to pay their respects at Parekura Horomia's tangi at Tolaga Bay this week but no matter how many come locals say they'll be ready.

The lawns were mown at Hauiti Marae yesterday, trees were pruned to make way for marquees, and kai tents were put up. The tents will service the overflow of mourners who won't fit into the dining hall.

It will be one of the biggest funerals this year.

Ngati Kahungunu was rumoured to have brought eight busloads full to pay their respects to the former Maori Affairs Minister and MP for Ikaroa Rawhiti who died on Monday.

The Labour Party is planning to arrive en masse today with leader David Shearer arriving back in New Zealand early this morning after cutting his trip to the United States, and other members of the caucus hiring a plane from Wellington.

Prime Minister John Key is planning to pay his respects on Friday.

Mr Horomia's body will taken on to Hauiti Marae at 9.30am today by one of his tribes, Ngati Kahungunu, along with Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples and Te Puni Kokiri officials, King Tuheitia, and Tainui.

The official Maori Party delegation will arrive tomorrow.

Te Aitanga a Hauiti tribal spokesman Wayne Ngata said the scale of the event was not a worry for the hosts.

"This is Maori Management 101. When we have a tangihanga you don't know who's coming, you don't know how many, how long they're going to stay and you don't know who's paying for it," he joked.